Danau language

Danau (Danaw) is a Mon–Khmer language of Myanmar (Burma). It is the most divergent member of the Palaungic branch (Sidwell 2010). Danau is spoken by about 1,000 people near Aungban, Kalaw Township, Shan State.^[1] Danau /dənɔ/ is the Burmese pronunciation of the ethnonym; the Danau themselves pronounce the name of their ethnic group and language as /tʰənɔʔ/. An acceptable variant is /kənɔʔ/. Danau is a tonal language with four tones.^[3]

The Danau are a little known ethnic group in Myanmar, and even in the nearby town of Aungban, it is common for people to confuse this group with the local Danu majority. According to historical accounts, the Danu had served as archers for King Alaungpaya, who founded the Konbaung Dynasty in the 18th century. The Danu settled in the Pindaya region after returning from wars in Thailand,^[4] and speak a variant of Burmese that is characterised by minor differences in pronunciation. The Danau, on the other hand speak a completely different Austroasiatic language, which nevertheless has numerous words borrowed from Burmese (and also ultimately from Pali via Burmese).

The Danau live primarily in the villages of Taungbohla, Thaethit, Htinyugon, Chaunggya and Naung In, within a short distance of the towns of Aungban and Heho. As these villages are surrounded by Pa'O villages, Danau people tend to speak Pa'O as well as Burmese. In spite of the small size of the Danau-speaking population, the language is vigorous, and being taught to children. The current situation is in contrast to the prediction made by the linguist Gordon H. Luce in 1965, when he called Danau a 'dying' language.^[5] The Danau people are primarily farmers, growing sesame, ginger, chilli, groundnut and potato for local consumption, and for sale at nearby markets.

References

Further reading

• A preliminary documentation of Danau, an endangered language of Myanmar (Burma)
• Aung Si. 2014. Documentation of Danau, an endangered language of Myanmar (Burma). Endangered Languages Archive.
• Aung Si. 2014. Documenting Bird Names in Danaw. Conference presentation, SEALS 24.

External links

• ELAR archive of Documentation of Danau

Languages of Myanmar
Official language	Burmese
Semiofficial language	English
Indigenous languages (by state or region)	Chin Kukish Northern Falam Siyin Tedim Thado Zo Central Bawm Hakha Chin Mizo Ngawn Tawr Maraic Lautu Mara Senthang Zotung Zyphe Southern Daai Kaang Khumi Müün Nga La Shö Songlai Sumtu Thaiphum Welaung Other Anu-Hkongso Long Phuri Kachin Sino-Tibetan Achang Drung Hpon Jingpho Lashi Lhao Vo Lisu Nusu Rawang Zaiwa Other Khamti Nung Palaung Tai Laing Kayah Kayaw Red Karen Kayin Bwe Karen Geba Karen Pwo Eastern Western S’gaw Karen Magway Rungtu Mon Mon Rakhine Arakanese Chakma Laitu Mro-Khimi Mru Rohingya Sak Sagaing Sal Htangan Khiamniungan Konyak Makyan Ponyo Sak Tangsa Other Akyaung Ari Anal Koki Naga Makuri Para Tangkhul Shan Austroasiatic Blang Danau Palaung Riang Tai Loi Wa Sino-Tibetan Akeu Akha Danu Geko Karen Intha Lahta Lahu Pa’o Padaung Pyen Taungyo Tai-Kadai Khün Tai Lü Shan Tai Nüa Other Hmong Njua Tanintharyi Moken S’gaw Tavoyan
Sign languages	Burmese sign language